Francis Joseph “Joe” Mondero

Francis Joseph “Joe” Mondero, 85, of Leavenworth, passed away Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, at The Sweet Life of Rosehill in Shawnee, Kan., where he had been a resident the last four months.

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The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

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Posted Nov. 5, 2012 at 5:26 PM
Updated Nov 6, 2012 at 4:48 PM

Posted Nov. 5, 2012 at 5:26 PM
Updated Nov 6, 2012 at 4:48 PM

Francis Joseph "Joe" Mondero, 85, of Leavenworth, passed away Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, at The Sweet Life of Rosehill in Shawnee, Kan., where he had been a resident the last four months. Joe was born June 22, 1927, in Russell, Kan., the son of John and Regina (Dreiling) Mondero.

On Dec. 29, 1951, he married Charlotte Butler in St. Joseph, Mo. She preceded him in death on Jan. 17, 2011. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Carla Ann Mondero and two sisters, Rita Ricketts and Clara Hinckey.

He attended Lansing Grade School and Lansing High School in which he served as high school Class President and Captain of the basketball team. After graduating in 1945, he was inducted into the U.S. Navy during WW II where he served on the USS Marcus Island, receiving the World War II Victory medal, American Theatre medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre medal. He also served during the Korean war conflict on the USS Benham (DD796) Destroyer. He worked for Kaaz Woodwork Company for over 25 years building cabinets and then continued his carpentry skills working for UNICOR, the Furniture Factory of the federal prison industries at the United States Penitentiary for 17 years before retiring in 1990. He was a member of St. Francis de Sales Church, Knights of Columbus, the Elks, the Nocturnal Adoration Society, Eagles, the Federal Prison Retirees Association and the Lansing Historical Society.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. The rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. by the Knights of Columbus. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 a.m. Saturday Nov. 10, 2012, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church with Rev. William McEvoy as celebrant. Burial with full military honors will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Francis deSales building fund or a charity of the donor's choice.